Should You Exercise Indoors
or Outdoors in Perth?

There are considerable differences when it comes to working out and exercising indoors or outdoors.  Having a well designed exercise routine which will takes you through the summer and winter months is an important aspect of keeping fit all year.  Our resident chiropractor at Perth Chiropractic will be happy to work with you to give you an individual exercise program which will keep you motivated and healthy throughout the year. 

Indoor Exercising

Should you exercise indoors or outdoors in Perth?  Below you will see some of the advantages of exercising indoors which our chiropractor at Perth Chiropractic points out:

Not dependent on weather – One of the main advantages of exercising indoors is the fact that you are able to workout during any extremes of temperature and humidity.  Prevailing bad weather will not affect your exercise routine as you will be exercising in the comfort of your home or gym.

Environment control – As with any exercise or workout program, the risk of injury is always possible, but, working out indoors decreases the risk of injury due to the fact that you are using indoor gym equipment in a controlled environment.

Control your intensity level – When using indoor equipment such as treadmills, rowing machines, elliptical and exercise bikes, you have control of the intensity level of your exercise.  For example, you can modify your incline/level, duration of exercise and modify your speed to suit your own level of fitness.  Using indoor gym equipment also lowers the stress and impact placed on your joints, feet, knees, hips and spine.  This is something which you cannot avoid when jogging on outdoor trails and uneven terrain.

Also, to assist you to measure the level of intensity of your exercise program most gym equipment is fitted with heart rate monitors.  When exercising, if you need advise on how high or low your heart rate should be, contact our health consultants at Perth Chiropractic for more information.

Targets certain muscle groups – If you wish to restore muscle imbalance, specific gym equipment can help you strengthen and target particular muscle groups in your body (for example, quadriceps or biceps). 

Outdoor Exercising

All outdoor forms of exercise such as swimming, running, cycling, walking and playing sports challenge your muscles and uplift your mind and body.  Natural sunlight is both good for your skin and Vitamin D also holds many added benefits for your body. 

There are some differences you may not be aware of when comparing outdoor walking to walking on a treadmill indoors.  Varying terrain and surfaces outdoors, for example, sloped sidewalks, curbs and steps, all challenge your balance, stability and strength.  Stopping and starting when allowing for people, children, pets and traffic, works your muscles in different ways. Having to dodge people and obstacles helps challenge side to side motion as well as forward motion. 

Remember it is always beneficial to get a certain amount of exposure to sunlight and get a daily dose of fresh air and Vitamin D.  Don’t forget to wear sunscreen when exposed in the sun. 

You don’t really need too many reasons to answer the question ‘should you exercise indoors or outdoors?’ In Perth the social aspects of being outdoors and combining family, social and physical activities has its advantages.  Being outdoors with the sounds of nature can be quite therapeutic and peaceful especially if you have a stressful lifestyle.  Taking your family to the park and playing various games and sporting activities benefits everyone physically and mentally.  Take advantage of the great outdoors. 

All Exercise is Not Created Equal

In a recent study published in 2011 (Thompson Coon et al), observations on indoor and outdoor exercises concluded that:

 “…most trials showed an improvement in mental well-being compared with exercising indoors, exercising in natural environments was associated with greater feelings of revitalization, increased energy and positive engagement, together with decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression. Participants also reported greater enjoyment and satisfaction with outdoor activity and stated that they were
more likely to repeat the activity at a later date.”

In conclusion, people tend to prefer outdoor exercise to indoor exercise, when it came to improving their mental and perhaps even physical state.  This is where our experts at Perth Chiropractic can assist you.  Our chiropractors can, in consultation with you, provide you with a safe and effective exercise and workout routine adaptable to suit indoor and outdoor environments. We answer any questions you may have regarding what areas of your body you should be targeting your exercise to, what your heart rate level should be and when and what level of intensity you should increase your exercises to. 

Your health and wellbeing is most important.

Call Perth Chiropractic NOW on 9421 1733 today
and let us show how we can help you.